Pioneer Ford Resurrects 650 HP F-150 Lightning

This 2017 Ford F-150 Lightning is an excellent tribute to the original. This build sold almost immediately, it's easy to see why.

By Antonio Mannino - October 5, 2017

The Original

You're looking at the first Ford F150 Lightning released in 1993. The "Lightning" edition of the F-150 was designed to be a high-performance sporty version of your typical F-150. This was produced by Ford's SVT (special vehicle team) and it put out 240 hp from a 5.8L V8 engine. It came paired with a 4-speed manual transmission and it was the first time in the F-150's long history that it was rolling out of the factory with a sporty intention rather than a utilitarian one.

The Second Wave of Lightning

Three years after the first generation ceased production, the second generation of the Ford Lighting SVT kicked off in 1999 and lasted until 2004. The truck featured a redesigned body in coordination with the new generation F-150s. This generation of the SVT Lightning boasted 360 hp from a 5.4 L V8 Triton engine that was fitted with an Eaton supercharger and an automatic transmission.

No More Lightning

The F-150 underwent a redesign in 2004 that brought an end to the Lightning edition as an option. Needless to say this was a sad day for the fans of the Lightning. Even though these were only produced for a few select years, this was still plenty of time to build up quite a cult following among Ford enthusiasts.

The Comeback

Pioneer Ford in Georgia recently resurrected a tribute edition of the Ford F-150 Lightning. Using all offical Rousch parts, they are offering this pickup for $50,000 with a standard factory warranty. The specs for this truck are quite impressive: a supercharged 5.0 V8 engine that is capable of putting 650 horsepower to the ground. Custom side-exit exhaust is also included along with custom wheels and a sport-tuned exhaust system.

Will Ford bring back the SVT Lightning?

This custom built F-150 brings up a big question. If this build gets a lot attention, will Ford be inspired to release a third generation Lightning? The newer F-150's have aluminum bodies which make them lighter and quicker. Pair one of these with some beefed up specs similar to the Pioneer Ford build and now you have a ridiculously fast pickup truck. Will we see a brand new Ford F-150 Lightning in the upcoming lineup? Given the modest reception it received in the past, it's doubtful, but it's nice to dream.